WB responds (a bit) to HBP delay: "We Love Our Fans"
The LA Times has a new article up highlighting how upset fans are at Warner Brother's decision to push back the release of Half-Blood Prince to July 17th, 2009. They spoke with WB president Alan Horn (pictured left) about the matter, who tried to come up with more reasoning:Warner currently is riding high with "The Dark Knight," the Batman film that also stars Bale. The grim super-hero movie has taken in $452 million in the U.S. since its July 18 release, making it the second-highest grossing film ever.
To some degree, that success motivated Warner to shift "Half-Blood Prince," Horn said. The film will now hit theaters the same midsummer weekend that "Dark Knight" was released this year. Horn said the young, core Potter audience would be out of school and give the film a longer theatrical life. It will now open opposite Universal's special-effects comedy "Land of the Lost," which stars Will Ferrell. But Horn said there was nothing next year compared to this summer's especially dense slate of big-budget releases.
The article wrapped up with this quote from Horn: "We would never do anything to hurt one of the movies or the series. We love our fans."
Posted by Andrew on Aug 15th |
685 Comments


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i totally hate them and hope thye rott in hell
keep your eyes open for pirated versions!!!!
I HATE WB! I HATE YOU WARNER BROS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!! LOOK AT ME! INSUFFERABLE GREEDY company! November is so CLOSE!!!!!!!!!!!
that grin on Horn's face looks like "I know something you don' t know. Haha ha ha ha ha." SCREW YOU!
whatever thats total BS!!!!! im still pissed!! WB sucks!!!!
Oh my fudge god!!! Are they insane. No one is gonna be happy with this and not on;y not happy, but they're not gonna take it. The WB better be ready for a lot of unhappy people after this. I came home and my Dad told me to get online right away because he thought something was happening with Harry Potter and I get on here and there it is. I screamed. I've been waiting for this for a very long time, and what's their reason? The writers strike? That strike was in L.A. and their writers weren't in it. Also, they finished filming months ago. They can't go back and change any of that stuff. OMG. I'm just so mad right now. THEY'RE SO STUPID
Let's look at it the HP-way. WB is obviosly a dark wizard group. It doesn't make the release date sooner but it feels good to talk about them as something close to death eaters ;) Let's quote old dear Dumbledore and find out why we all can hate WB... ;) 1. Dumbledore said: "If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love." Neither can WB... 2. He also said: "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." WB chose the wrong thing. 3. "Humans have a knack for choosing precisely the things that are worst for them." (Guess when you would get the highest amount of money, WB? November or July?) This is saying that WB is making the wrong (aka evil/egoistic) choice. Of course they want to gain a lot of money, but this is way to much and it makes me sick. Finally, some more quotes for all you fans out there. Keep up the spirit! Here's something to think about: 1. "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." 2. "...in the light of Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." Great man, Dumbledore...
Check out my write-up on this horrible business: http://eicat s.deviantart.com/journal/ 19972688/ ADD YOUR COMMENTS AND VENT!!!
I'm harry potter fan but this change is only for money matters and not bacause WB loves us too much... and even so... sorry guys!!! but The Dark knight is a master piece... and the half-blood prince won't compera at all.
Alan Horn is odv. fudge using poly juice potion
Well, I'm certainly in agreement with everyone else here. What makes me even angrier is that they attempted to place blame on the previous writer's strike, which is totally out of line as the film is now in post-production. It's extremely obvious that this is just WB's excuse to have a "Dark Knight"-type film for next summer. The don't even have the decency to release it on a different week than "Dark Knight"! Sheesh. And what's even more ridiculous; they didn't even bother to inform their OWN various branches about this change until, like, today. So there's still misinformation being printed that the film is coming out in November. Bets are the trailer attached to "Clone Wars" today still touts the November release! Psh. Guess this changes the game's release too, huh? Shame.
As fans we must unite! Don't let WB's evil corporation greed ruin something that was made for us! I say we fight back and unite as ONE ARMY...DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY! Please check out and sign the PETITION! Please pass along to others! http://www.pet itionspot.com/petitions/H alfBloodPrince UNITED WE FIGHT!
Lies. All they really care is about money, not the fans. Fans mean nothing to them, just the fact that we will pay to go see the movie in theaters. I say boycot the movie and WB. If they want to pull the movie back and let it sit on a shelf for 11 months gather dust, that they (WB) don't deserve our hard worked for money.
Ugly effing mug. If you want to move it to a time when more people can see it, what the HELL is wrong with Christmas? And the film is finished, yet you're letting it rot away for a whole 11 months? Uh, people like YOU, WB, make me sick to my stomach. I hope you get what's coming to you. You do realise how many people have access to the internet? They'll realise what you're doing and it's all going to blow up in your ugly faces. I will enjoy it.
Oh my God! I cant believe it! Every year a new Harry Potter movie has come out and this year we get nothing! Im protesting. Does this mean the date for The Deathy Hallows is prosponded too?
As fans we must unite! Don't let WB's evil corporation greed ruin something that was made for us! I say we fight back and unite as ONE ARMY...DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY! Please check out and sign the PETITION! Please pass along to others! http://www.pet itionspot.com/petitions/H alfBloodPrince UNITED WE FIGHT!
They better f-ing release Deathly Hallows ASAP after HBP.l
GREEDY !!! GREEDY!!! GREEDY!! THEY'VE ALSO BACKED UP THE OPENING DATE FOR THE PARK IN ORLANDO... COME ON!!! ALAN HORN IS THE WORST!!
bull crap
omfg they are the theme park too ? I HATE HIM I HATE HIM I HATE HIM I HATE HIM I HATE HII HATE HIM I HATE HIM I HATE HIM I HATE HIM I HATE HIM
I was right when I said they would make too much money. I know that sounds crazy, but financially, they wont be stable next year. They want a big movie so THEY will be comfey. It sucks. I hate to break this to yall, but signing a petition will do no good to change there minds. They are not human enough to stick they're foot in there mouth, swallow there pride and say"I'm sorry, we'll fix it". They are a corporation, that's not how there collective runs. They don't love us, but they know we will still go see the movie. It's a win-win for them.
BIG COOPERATIONS STRIKE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!! They just don't want it cutting into the Dark Knight revenues. ALL HARRY POTTER FANS EMAIL WB AND DEMAND THEY STAY WITH THE ORIGNAL RELEASE DATE.
Of course they love us!! We're the ones filling their greedy pockets with money and making sure they sleep well at night...well our money does. It angers me because they can do it and they did...we're such fans that we will still go watch the movie even if it comes out Dec 2010..or if they hike the prices up to 30 dollars a ticket. Im furious because they saw what happend with the dark night and they are thinking it can happen with this movie. I hope our anger and petitions, and even the feedbacks you send will make a difference. I know all of us have been waiting for a long time and have anticipated in the November release date...I know I did...and I am just hurt by all this. BUT I am happy to know that my anger is shared everywhere. You guys rock!
Oh, gosh, that answered SO many questions, thanks! I especially loved, "The question we asked is, what is best for this movie." Um, false. You asked, "What is best for the shareholders." Nothing wrong with that, but let be honest, please.
I REALLY THINK HE SHOULD CHANGE HIS STATEMENT FROM "WE LOVE OUR FANS" TO WE LOVE OUR MONEY!! well guess what Horn, you lost ONE FAN!! I'M STILL MAD!!
go see the movie but DONT buy the ticket, buy a ticket for a non WB movie. win-win for us!!!
hahah awsome idea jcdpotc21 id reather give my money to anything else but ill still prob gett the right tiket because i save themm but oh well i could find one on the floor but please lets promise not to go se a warner brother movie untill harry potter
WE SHOULD UNITE!! DON'T GIVE UP Y'ALL, WE NEED TO PROVE HIM THAT WITHOUT US THIS MOVIE IS NOTHING!! I don't care if he release new pics to calm me down, I'm not calm, I'm freaking pissed and mark my words WB, I won't rest until you release the movie in November!!!
I think the only way for this to be changed is to overlook WB and go straight to someone who has huge authority to change JK Rowling herself!
yes i agree WE MUST UNITE WE CANT DO THIS BYOUR SELFS. we must unitee and stick together
that's crud. "We love our fans"...*snorts*
THEY LOVE MONEY. THEY DON'T LOVE US. ISN'T THAT RIGHT????
Let's make a pact to not watch the HBP prince movie until a week later... that way it wont have huge money in the first week and wont break any records... it's just about the money... idiots.............. you torture us we'll torture you DOUBLE. what do you say mugglenet fans?!!!!! you with me!!!!!!!
THIS HORN GUY DOESN'T EVEN CARE!! HE ALREDY SAW THE FREAKING MOVIE!! and now he is gonna make us wait 11 months for the movie, and he thinks that releasing a few new pics will calm us down, YOU ARE CRAZY ALAN HORN, YOU JUST LOVE YOUR MONEY AND MORE MONEY, YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT US, BECAUSE YOU ALREDY SAW THE FREAKING MOVIE, LUCKY B""TARD!!
i would but i honestly dont think i could im going to be there opening night
OF COURSE you still love the fans. Money-grabbin' a**holes. I'm still ridiculously angry.
WAND THAT IS A GREAT IDEA!!! I SWEAR I'M GONNA DO THAT, I PINKY PROMISE!! YOU WILL SUFFER WB!
LIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALL LIES!!!!!!!!!!! They love us my A$$. Obviously a many others have pointed out, we must be doing a darn good job at putting pressure on them if they released a statement like this just the day after the announcement. So let's keep at it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sign the petition http://www.petit ionspot.com/petitions/ha rrypotter6 (remove the spaces), send in letters and E-Mails, GIVE THEM HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Like they said, they're doing it because they think it'll make more money if it's released during the summer. We need to make sure that doesn't happen. It's gonna take a lot of willpower, but I think I'll make sure NOT to see it in the theater. We should all do that. If we can wait the 8 months we're being forced unwillingly to wait, we can wait an extra 4 months til it's released on DVD. You know the 7th movie isn't gonna be released when they said (december 09, right?)... I hope they don't make much money on it. Selfish greedy bastards.
That floppy wanded dementor boggerer.
I think Alan Horn is full of BS!! If WB truly LOVED the fans, they would have taken our opinion into account, but they aren't doing that nor do I see them ever doing that. All they care about is money. Do they honestly think that HBP is gonna do as well as Dark Knight?? When has ANY HP movie done that well???? And what they aren't taking into account is the non-readers. There are a LOT of non-readers that go to the movies. Their interest in the movies are probably going to go down because there hasn't been anything new within two years. And the fact that the gap between HBP and DH being shorter is crap because the gap between those two was shorter when HBP was going to be released in November than the gap now between OotP and HBP. These are factors that WB is NOT taking into account, and those two could possibly affect the box office success of HBP, since that's clearly all they care about....
"Horn acknowledged that the studio would have to pacify fans in the months to come." - Basically we're going to see the movie in pictures before the movie comes out. Aren't we?! Lame.
how sad that the people who think imax is still releasing in november are incorrect. i wouldn't mind so much if that were the case as we always see it first in imax.. but it's been pushed back to july also from everything i'm reading, including the statement from imax.. learn how to read perhaps. oh well. not really. i'm so so so so so so disappointed. was really looking forward to november, and july is. oh wait, almost a full year away. i'm getting older people, too quickly, and what if some of us get hit by a bus in february or march? jerk offs. wb sucks.
First, i'm a Potter fan, i'm not a teenager i'm 30, with degree and a working mother too. And i need to say what i think about all this, trying to understand the warner reasons and the fans reasons. Using the argument that they gave us: "The young, core Potter audience would be out of school and give the film a longer theatrical life", I'd like to say Warner Bros. this: Christmas season it's a better option for release The Half Blood Prince.. your target have no school, have a lot of money, have a lot of fre time to spend... Think it! your other movie (batman) will not be disturbed in their incoming if that's what you worried. C'mon... can you see? August --------December it's better than August ------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------- July Be razonable and serious, you can't make this to fans, it's grotesque! we spend our money in your Harry Potter'movies 'cause we love it, you will take all your millions don't be afraid, just be respectful with us! we are your costumers! And where in the world is JK Rowling, who suposed loves Harry fans? why she didn't say nothing? Just receive her checks and that's all? her commitment with fans ends in the bookstore when everyone bought her books? Sad, so sad. Nobody cares about fans. But all them (Rowling, Warner, movie theaters, etc) wants to take our money when they say, isn't? Well, we will see... They forgot the one golden rule in business: customer is first. All we are so sad and angry. I'm seriously thinking quit to be a Harry Potter fan.
actually wand i think ill do that too
they think it's the date that makes a movie have a good release? see, i've always thougt it was the quality of the movie. HBP would probably have had an equally successful release this november!!!
Dear WB, We are not fans of yours. We are fans of HP and JKR. And this move eloquently proves why.
As a Harry Potter fanatic, I will not boycott the Harry Potter films, there is no way I could do that, but if Warner Brothers does not come through and release the film when they first agreed to, I will boycott all other Warner Brothers films, and anything connected to Warner Brothers. I think if all of the Harry Potter fans agreed to that, they would have to change their plans, and release the film as promised. Warner Brothers knows that Harry Potter fans will go to the movie WHENEVER they release it, so they think they hold all of the cards, but I don
So, yesterday is the obviously the worst day of the summer for us Potter fans. Even worse than the wait for the HBP teaser trailer, which I have to say for me, was worth the wait ! Today, is also the day the WB sunk lower than low. Today Warner Brothers has basically called us a bunch of Idiots to our faces !!! They have basically said we are such stupid fangirls/fanboys that we will flock to a movie no matter when then decide to release. They said we'll give a press release to them that basically tells ays we are movie the Harry Potter movie back til July ,so our already billion dollar company can make even more money. And OH! This will work because you know those kids that love the series, the characters, the plot, and the author whole- heartdly will come no matter when its released !!!! (And Ive even heard from a friend, there doing this to make room for the Dark Knight so it can continue to earn the big bucks, through November and maybe earn more than Titanic, but thats just a rumor !) To me, this is UNFORGIVEABLE !!!!!!!!!! The movie is done, finished, post production has been completed as scheduled. Thats what makes this even more annoying... the movie is COMPLETELY done, yet their sitting on it for 9 months. They're not editing it, fixing it, buffing it up, nothing. The movie they have now is the same thing we"ll be watching nearly a year from now. That is most disturbing part !! So because of blatant attempt by WB to make us look like fools,I purpose we as fans show the WB we are not pushovers and hit them where it hurts !!! The box office !!!! I will sign these petition floating around, even though we all know from years of experience this will go nowhere, and I wont boycott the WB because we also all know if we stop buying there merchandise it also wont help. So I say we dont see the movie !!! Before you turn a deaf ear!!! Please hear me out !!!!! Because I know all of us as Potter fans will still go and see the movie , but I pu...
I thought the countdown was wrong until i started reading the articles that were posted for only the past 2 days!!! I thought the news was coming very slowly so i didnt log on yesterday. Boy, what lousy news i got today!!I'm sad, mad, angry, frustrated and everything that everybody else said. OF COURSE WB WANTS ANOTHER BLOCKBUSTER NEXT YEAR!!! Who wouldn't???? now i have to delete all the reminders on my cell phone and change my opening line. what a bummer.... guess i'll try (more than try) not to see any WB movies between now and next JUly. I still cant believe it.........shakes head...... i was so excited, too, that the countdown was in the 90's. how sad........;-(
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